Advising Clusters

The UC Santa Cruz application requires students to select a “proposed” major or, for freshmen undecided on a major, an “Advising Cluster” to indicate a potential area of academic interest. Advising Clusters allow students not yet focused on a specific major to explore and prepare for UCSC majors in an intentional way, by completing necessary placement and first year courses that will assist them in choosing and qualifying for a major. While each student may officially designate only one Advising Cluster, undecided students may review the information for any cluster of interest.

The links to the left and below provide information about initial placement and first year courses for each cluster. General information about UCSC majors is available through the Admissions web site, and specific information about the requirements for each major is in the UCSC General Catalog. UCSC students are expected to move from an advising cluster to a “proposed” major by the end of the first year, and must be formally qualified for and declared in a major by the end of the sophomore year.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS:For students interested in economics, business management economics, global economics, or the combined major in economics & mathematics.

EDUCATION:Students who are interested in education or a teaching career may select the Education cluster; those who do so will also need to select a discipline to pursue as a major.

LIBERAL ARTS AND AREA STUDIES:For students interested in classical studies, critical race and ethnic studies, feminist studies, German studies, history, history of art and visual culture, Italian studies, Jewish studies, Latin American and Latino studies, philosophy, and Spanish studies. These majors focus on a particular area and include perspectives on relevant history, literature and social structures.

LIFE AND HEALTH SCIENCES:For students interested in general biology, ecology and evolution, human biology, molecular cellular and developmental biology, marine biology, plant sciences, neuroscience, and cognitive science, and/or for students interested in pursuing pre-professional health programs such as medical school.